左 means “left”

ひだり · hidari

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

ひだり

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

サ, シャ

JLPT N5 · Taught in grade 1 · 5 strokes

The story

A hand holding a carpenter's square: the left hand that steadies while the right works. In Japan you walk on the left, drive on the left, and a samurai wore the katana on the left hip.

Used in 左手 (hidarite, left hand), 左側 (hidarigawa, left side), and 左折 (sasetsu, left turn)

Words with 左

• 左右 (さゆう, sayuu): left and right

More from Compass & Position

• 中 inside
• 後 behind
• 前 front
• 上 above
• 東 east
• 方 direction
• 外 outside
• 下 below
• 以 from
• 区 ward
• 北 north
• 所 place

Learn 左 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.